According to a report from Mirror, Manchester United are actively pursuing the signing of Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen. It has been reported that United have made an offer totalling €50 million (£43 million) for Christensen, consisting of €30 million upfront and €15 million in variables.
While Barcelona remain open to selling Christensen for the price offered, they are looking for a larger upfront payment. Considering the potential departures of Eric Bailly and the interest in Harry Maguire from West Ham, the Red Devils seem keen on bringing in a new central defender this summer.
Christensen’s Campaign With Barcelona Last Season
The Danish centre-back had a decent campaign with the Spanish giants last season, as he produced a number of influential displays in the backline at Nou Camp. He managed to find the back of the net on one occasion and created an assist in 27 appearances for the Spanish outfit in all competitions.
The 27-year-old did well in the defensive third after averaging 0.9 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 2.0 clearances per game in La Liga. He also efficiently distributed the ball from the back after completing 94% of his attempted passes in the Spanish top flight (stats via whoscored).
Is He A Decent Fit For Manchester United Boss Erik Ten Hag?
The Danish defender possesses excellent ball-playing skills, making him comfortable in possession. He also displays a keen ability to read the game and execute crucial interceptions, which aligns well with Erik Ten Hag‘s possession-based style of play.
Nevertheless, there are valid concerns regarding Christensen’s physical strength. He is not the tallest or strongest defender, so he can be vulnerable if caught out of position. Moreover, his consistency in recent seasons has not been as high as he would desire.
In conclusion, Christensen has the potential to be a valuable addition to Manchester United’s squad, but there are valid doubts regarding whether he could deliver. To become a regular starter, he would need to improve his physical strength and overall consistency on the field. Nonetheless, his arrival at Old Trafford will add more depth to the defensive department, and he will certainly bring more competition to the squad.
